Week 8 - 2/8 July
Another visit to the jeweller this week ........
Mayor's Blog - Week 8 - 2nd to 8th July 2008
Another visit to the jeweller this week to have the Mayoral Chain cleaned and buffed to match the re-gilded Badge. The whole ensemble now glints and gleams and is restored to its full glory!
A visit to 40Degreez (near the Dogflud car park in Farnham) on Thursday opened my eyes to a different way of supporting youth services in Waverley. The building was originally intended simply as a "Youth Drop-In Centre" but a group of enthusiasts formed a trust, chaired by SCC Councillor Janet Maines, and working with the Surrey Youth Development Service and other providers raised funds to convert the building into a multiple use facility. It has a variety of small and large rooms and has washing, drying, ironing, and kitchen and shower facilities. The facilities are hired out to any organisation that wishes to use them but with priority to those supporting disadvantaged youth. When I visited, a Young Parents Group was being run by staff from SCC and Waverley Community Services, rooms had been let to allow teaching of English to foreign students, and several small rooms were in use for one-on-one private interviews. Find more at www.40degreez.org.uk or info@40degreez.org.uk.
A group of children from Broadwater School wished to pursue photography which was not offered as a full time course on the GCSE curriculum. With the help of one of the teachers, Neil Haywood, they set up their own Photography Club as an after school activity. On Thursday I was invited by Becky Foster, one of the club members, to an exhibition of their work. It was outstanding, with many photographs on display which would have done justice to a major London exhibition. It proved to me yet again just how much pupils can achieve when guided by an involved and supportive teacher.
Friday and Saturday both started with Speech Days at King Edward's School Witley. Friday's event was for King Edward's School and the prizes were presented by The Lord Mayor of London Locum Tenens. Many Masters of the Worshipful Companies were present and, together with the Lord Mayor in full regalia, this made for very splendid processions into the church and then into the marquee for the presentations and speeches. The marquee, which could house several hundred people, was used again on Saturday for the presentations and speeches for St Catherine's School Bramley; afterwards, everyone decamped to the school grounds in Bramley for the rest of the day's activities. Friday evening was topped off with a viewing of the "Sounding of Retreat" by the Salamanca Band and Bugles of the Rifles at Buller Barrack's in Aldershot. In my early days in the Royal Air Force I was a drummer with a pipes and drums band; we always Beat Retreat. I learned today that a full band "Sounds Retreat" - it's never too late!
After the St Catherine's School speech day, the rest of Saturday became rather manic with visits to one of Waverley's sheltered homes at Blunden Court in Bramley, the Harbour day centre in Milford to meet Friend's of the Harbour who support the families of the people with severe learning disabilities, both of the former visits done in full regalia, and to Weydon School in Farnham which was celebrating its golden jubilee.
Another visit to Haslemere Farmers Market on Sunday was followed by attendance at the civic service in St Andrew's Church Farnham for the Mayor of Farnham, Councillor Gillian Beel. The choir from the South Farnham School sang beautifully, obviously inspired by the amazing acoustics in St Andrew's. In the evening, the Mayoress and I attended the Godalming Choral Society Summer Concert in Charterhouse Hall. Once again the society, lead by conductor Michael Veazey, produced a wonderful programme this time, under the banner of "A Night at the Opera". Tenor soloist Robert Forbes was outstanding and the choir proved more than capable of producing a wonderfully rich and agreeable sound.
The week ended on Tuesday with a visit to Farnham Castle for the 50th Anniversary of its opening as a Briefing and Conference Centre and to mark the completion of Phase 1 of the restoration project. HRH The Earl of Wessex attended and impressed everyone with his free and easy style, and knowledge and interest in the project.
If you would like to know more about any of these events please look at the Waverley Website at www.waverley.gov.uk where there are links to most of the organisations mentioned, or contact me by email at mayorofwaverley@waverley.gov.uk.